C.P.I. for baked foods, cereals climbs 0.3%

May 15, 2012
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by Eric Schroeder

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WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products rose 0.3% in April after falling 0.3% in March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home also was higher, rising 0.1% after climbing 0.1% in March.

Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, 14 posted month-over-month gains, 3 finished lower and one was unchanged.

The April index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 268% of the 1982-84 average, up 4.5% from a year ago. For all food at home, the April index was 231.7, up 3.2% from April 2011.

The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in April was 233.7, up 0.4% from March and up 4.8% from April 2011. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 252.1, unchanged from March and up 8.6% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 228.9, up 0.4% from the previous month and up 3.7% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 240.7, up 0.7% from March and up 4.5% from April 2011.

The price index for bakery products in April was 286.6, up 0.3% from March and up 4.5% from April 2011.

The April index for bread was 173.6, up 0.3% from March and up 4% from April 2011. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 314.4, up 0.3% from March and up 4.2% from April 2011. For bread other than white, the index was 335.6, up 0.5% from March and up 3% from a year ago.
The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in April was 166.2, down 1.3% from March but up 2.8% from April 2011. The April index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 268.2, up 1.2% from March and up 5.9% from April 2011. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 279, up 0.5% from March and up 6.4% from April 2011; and cookies, 258.4, up 1.7% from the previous month and up 5.7% from the previous year.

The C.P.I. for other bakery products in April was 259.8, up 0.3% from March and up 4.4% from April 2011. Under this heading, other price indexes in April included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 268.7, down 2.4% from March but up 4.2% from April 2011; crackers and cracker products, 307.3, up 2.4% from March and up 5.9% from April 2011; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 269.4, down 0.2% from March but up 4.9% from the previous year.

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